A systematic treatment of current crashworthiness practice in the automotive, railroad and aircraft industries. Structural, exterior and interior design, occupant biomechanics, seat and restraint systems are dealt with, taking account of statistical data, current regulations and state-of-the-art design tool capabilities. Occupant kinematics and biomechanics are reviewed, leading to a basic understanding of human tolerance to impact and of the use of anthropometric test dummies and mathematical modelling techniques. Different types of restraining systems are described in terms of impact biomechanics. The material and structural behaviour of vehicle components is discussed in relation to crash testing. A variety of commonly used techniques for simulating occupants and structures are presented, in particular the use of multibody dynamics, finite element methods and simplified macro-elements, in the context of design tools of increasing complexity, which can be used to model both vehicles and occupants. Audience: An excellent reference for researchers, engineers, students and all other professionals involved in crashworthiness work.

Featuring contributions from leading experts, the Road and Off-Road Vehicle System Dynamics Handbook provides comprehensive, authoritative coverage of all the major issues involved in road vehicle dynamic behavior. While the focus is on automobiles, this book also highlights motorcycles, heavy commercial vehicles, and off-road vehicles. The authors of the individual chapters, both from automotive industry and universities, address basic issues, but also include references to significant papers for further reading. Thus the handbook is devoted both to the beginner, wishing to acquire basic knowledge on a specific topic, and to the experienced engineer or scientist, wishing to have up-to-date information on a particular subject. It can also be used as a textbook for master courses at universities. The handbook begins with a short history of road and off-road vehicle dynamics followed by detailed, state-of-the-art chapters on modeling, analysis and optimization in vehicle system dynamics, vehicle concepts and aerodynamics, pneumatic tires and contact wheel-road/off-road, modeling vehicle subsystems, vehicle dynamics and active safety, man-vehicle interaction, intelligent vehicle systems, and road accident reconstruction and passive safety. Provides extensive coverage of modeling, simulation, and analysis techniques Surveys all vehicle subsystems from a vehicle dynamics point of view Focuses on pneumatic tires and contact wheel-road/off-road Discusses intelligent vehicle systems technologies and active safety Considers safety factors and accident reconstruction procedures Includes chapters written by leading experts from all over the world This text provides an applicable source of information for all people interested in a deeper understanding of road vehicle dynamics and related problems.

This book provides a state-of-the-art look at the applied biomechanics of accidental injury and prevention. The editors, Drs. Narayan Yoganandan, Alan M. Nahum and John W. Melvin are recognized international leaders and researchers in injury biomechanics, prevention and trauma medicine. They have assembled renowned researchers as authors for 29 chapters to cover individual aspects of human injury assessment and prevention. This third edition is thoroughly revised and expanded with new chapters in different fields. Topics covered address automotive, aviation, military and other environments. Field data collection; injury coding/scaling; injury epidemiology; mechanisms of injury; human tolerance to injury; simulations using experimental, complex computational models (finite element modeling) and statistical processes; anthropomorphic test device design, development and validation for crashworthiness applications in topics cited above; and current regulations are covered. Risk functions and injury criteria for various body regions are included. Adult and pediatric populations are addressed. The exhaustive list of references in many areas along with the latest developments is valuable to all those involved or intend to pursue this important topic on human injury biomechanics and prevention. The expanded edition will interest a variety of scholars and professionals including physicians, biomedical researchers in many disciplines, basic scientists, attorneys and jurists involved in accidental injury cases and governmental bodies. It is hoped that this book will foster multidisciplinary collaborations by medical and engineering researchers and academicians and practicing physicians for injury assessment and prevention and stimulate more applied research, education and training in the field of accidental-injury causation and prevention.